Weft-detecting mechanism for looms.



No. 743,166. PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903. G. F. H INS.-

WEFT DETECTING ME A NISM FOB. LOOMS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 31, 1901.

N0 MODEL. s SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

mihnnmm um n llll Hlllllll WW PATENTED Nov. 3, 1903.

G. F. HUTGHINS. WBFT DETECTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS. APPLIUATIONIIL'ED MAY 31, 1901. N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 No-. 743,166. I PATENTED NOV. s, 1903. G. P. HUTGHINS.

WEFT DETECTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1901. no MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

5, 9 ,3 I 1 n nmumm a 5 as" UNIT D STATES Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. HUTCHINS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROMPTON & KNOWLES LOOM WORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WEFT-DE TECTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,166 dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed May 31, 1901.

To all whom it may concern).-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. HUTOHINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Weft-Detecting Mechanism for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to looms, and more particularly to a weft or filling detector mech anism for 1001115.

Filling-detector mechanism for looms both mechanical and electrical are employed for automatically indicating for a fresh supply of filling when the filling in the running-shuttle is substantially exhausted, and by means of filling-detector mechanisms a change of shuttles or a change of bobbins is automatically produced when the filling on the bobbin or cop in the running-shuttle is substantially exhausted or exhausted to a predetermined point. p

The object of my invention is to provide an improved filling-detector mechanism more particularly adapted to be used in changeshuttle looms of any ordinary or well-known construction.

In my improvements the shuttle 'has an opening or recess in the body or outer part thereof and near one end, and a device in the form of a latch or a slide is located within or. on the shuttle and is adapted to'be quickly moved to close or extend over said opening or recess when the filling on the bobbin or cop in the running-shuttle is exhausted to a predetermined point to prevent the entrance of a device independent of the shuttle and through intermediate mechanism cause a change of filling. The operation of the closing latch or slide to close the open'ingor recess in the shuttle above referred to is controlled or governed by a filling-feeler within the shuttle which engages the filling on the bobbin or cop and also engages or is con-. nected with the closing latch or slide. Upon the exhaustion of filling to a predetermined point the feeler instantly operates the closing latch or slide or allows it to move into a position where it will close the opening or recess in the shuttle and prevent the entrance of a ments applied thereto.

Serial No. 62,542. (No model.)

device independent of the shuttle and through intermediate mechanism cause a change of filling.

In connection with my filling-detector mechanism combined with the shuttleI have shown in the drawings mechanisms intermediate the shuttle and the ordinary filling-fork of a loom to operate the filling-fork and cause it through intermediate connections to operate the filling-changing mechanism.

I have shown in the drawings one end of a shuttle with one form of mechanism embodying my improvements applied thereto sufiicient to illustrate the nature of my invention.

I have also shown forms of mechanism intermediate the shuttle and the filling-fork sufficient to illustrate the operation of my improvements.

Referring to thedrawings, Figure l is a side view of .one end of a shuttle embodying my improvements and showing the opening or recess in the body of the shuttle at one'end. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the parts shown in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrow at, same figure. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of arrow b, same figure. Fig. 4 corresponds to Fig. 3, but shows the parts in the opposite position. Fig. 5 shows the spindle having a full cop thereon in its raised position. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of a loom, showing one end of the lay and a shuttle-box and a shuttle therein and one end of the breast-beam with my improve- Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7, Fig. 6, looking in the direction of arrow 0, same figure. Fig. 8 corresponds to Fig. 7, but shows the parts in their opposite positions. Fig. 9 corresponds to Fig. 6, but shows a modified construction of the mechanism intermediate the shuttle and the filling-fork. Fig. 10 is a section online 10 10, Fig. 9,1001;- ing in the direction of arrow e, samefigure; and Fig. 11 corresponds to Fig. 10, but shows the parts in their opposite positions.

In the accompanying drawings,1 is the body of one end of a shuttle. 2 is a spindle pivotally mounted at one end within the shuttlebody in the ordinary way, and 3 is a cop mounted on the spindle. A recess or opening 4 is made in the outside of the shuttle near one end, as shown. The recess 4 is in this instance extended into the shuttle-body in the form of a narrow slot 5, within which is free to move in this instance a latch 6, pivoted on a transverse pin 7. The latch 6 in its raised position, as shown in Fig. 3, leaves a free opening or entrance in the recess 4, but in its lowered position, as shown in Fig. 4, closes the opening or entrance to the recess 4. The latch 6 has an extension 6 thereon, to which in this instance is attached one end of a coiled spring 8. The other end of said spring is attached to a pin 8, secured in the shuttle. The spring 8 acts to move or lower the latch 6 when it is released from engageinent with the extension 9 on the filling feeler or lever 9, in this instance pivoted on the pin 10. The latch 6 may drop by gravity and the spring 8 dispensed with, if preferred. The curved flattened end 9" of the feeler 9 bears on the bobbin 3 and is held in engagement therewith by a spring 11, attached at one end to the feeler 9 and coiled around and fastened at its other end to the pivot-pin 10 of the feeler 9 in this instance.

When the cop 3 is full, as shown in Fig. 3, the feeler 9 is held outwardly, and the extension 9 thereon is caused to engage the extension 6 on the latch 6 and hold the latch in its raised position against the action of the spring 8. As the filling on the cop 3 is gradually exiausted the feeler 9, operated by the spring 11, moves on its pivotal support 10 until when the' filling is exhausted to a predetermined point the extension 9 thereon passes by the extension 6 on the latch 6 and allows the spring 8 to instantly lower or move the latch, as shown in Fig. 4.

The time of the disengagement of the extension 9 on the feeler 9 from the extension 6' on the latch 6 to allow the latch 6 to be lowered is regulated by the amount of filling to be left on the cop 3 before the entire exhaustion of filling.

I will now describe the mechanism shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of the drawings and in this instance combined with the filling-detector mechanism contained in the shuttle above described for automatically changing the filling when the latch 6 is in its lowered position to close the entrance to the recess 4. The breast-beam 12 has the filling-fork slidestand 13 thereon, in which the filling-fork slide 14, carrying the filling-fork 15 ot ordinary construction, is adapted to slide in the ordinary way. It will be understood that when the downward-projecting prongs 15 on the filling-fork 15 are not engaged by the filling to tilt the fork the hook end 15" thereof will engage the upper end of the cam-lever 16 and the filling-fork slide will be moved back to engage the usual devices (not shown) and rotate said shaft to put into operation the shuttle changing or filling changing mechanism in the ordinary and well-known way. The lay 17, supported oh the lay-sword 18 and carrying the reed 19 and having a shuttle-box 20 at one end and the binder 30, is of the ordinary construction. Secured upon the upper side of the shuttle-box 20 is a stand 22, in which is fast a stud 23, on which is pivot-ally mounted a rocking lever 24, having the downwardly and inwardly curved end 24, the extreme end of which acts as a finger or dagger and is adapted to pass through a hole in the back of the shuttle-box 20 and enter the recess 4 on the lower side of the shuttle until the recess is closed by the loweringordropping of the latch 6. The straight end 24 of the lever 24 has a pin 25 therein, which extends over and rides on the upper side of a lever 26, pivoted on apin 27, fast in the end of a bracket 28, secured on the upper end of the loom-frame 29. A spring 30, secured at one end to an ear 26 on the lever 26 and its other end to a pin 28 on the bracket 28, tends to hold the lever 26 in its raised position against the weight of the lever 24,1esting thereon. Secured in a side extension 26 on the lever 26 is a long pin or rod 31, which extends over and engages the hook end 15 of the filling-fork 15, as shown in Fig. 6. A spring 32, interposed between the back of the shuttle-box and the curved end 24 of the lever 24, acts to move the lever 24 on its pivot-pini23 and causes the pin 25 thereon to engage the lever 26. A stop-pin 33 limits the rocking motion of the lever 24.

The operation of the mechanism above described for moving the filling-fork to cause the filling-changingmechanism to be operated will be readily understood.

As long as there is sufficient filling on the cop 3 and it is not exhausted to a predetermined point the latch 6 will be held and maintained in its raised position by the extension 9 on the feeler 9, allowing the end 24 of the lever 24 to enter the recess 4 upon the heating up of the lay, the spring 30 acting to hold up the lever 26 as the pin 25 on the lever 24 rides thereon as the lay beats up; but when the filling on the cop 3 is exhausted to a predetermined point the latch 6 is released and lowered or dropped, as above described, to close the opening or recess 4, and the end 24 of the lever 24 is thus prevented from entering the recess 4, and the opposite end 24" of said lever 24 is therefore held down, causing the pin 25 thereon, riding on the lever 26 as the lay heats up, to force down said lever and cause the pin 31 thereon to engage and move the hook end 15" of the filling-fork 15 into engagement with the upper end of the cam lever 16, the movement of which will operate the filling-fork slide in the ordinary way and through mechanism not shown put into operation the shuttle-changing or filling-changing mechanism in the well-known way.

I will now describe the mechanism shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11 of the drawings. In these figures the lever corresponding to the lever 24 (shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8) is mounted on a stationary part of the loom and independent of the lay and does not move with the lay, as is the case of the lever 24:, and the projecting engaging end acts as a finger or dagger and extends into the opening in the shuttle on the forward beat of the lay when said opening is not closed by the latch.

The parts in Figs. 9, 10, an'd 11 are marked with the same figures as the corresponding parts in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. It is therefore only necessary to describe the modified construction of the indicator-lever and the 'operation thereof. A stand 35 is secured to the loom-frame, with the forwardly-extending arm 35' at its lower end and a forked arm 35" at its upper end. On a stud 36 in the outer end of the arm 35' is pivotally mounted the lower end of the lever 37, which has the forwardly-projecting extension 37' thereon, which acts as a finger or dagger and is adapted to extend into the recess 4 on the front side of the shuttle, as shown in Fig. 11, when the lay beats up. The rearwardly-extending upper end 37" of the lever 37 has a pin 38 thereon, which extends in a slot 39 in an arm 39, fast on a shaft 40, which has its bearings and turns in the hubs 35 on the upper forked end 35 of the stand 35. Secured upon the opposite end of the shaft 40 is an arm 41, having a pin 42extending out from one side and over the hook end 15 of the filling-fork 15. A spring 43 is coiled around the shaft 40 and operates to hold the parts in their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 11. Apin 39" limits the rocking of the shaft 40.

The operation of the modified form of the mechanism (shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11) for moving the filling-fork 15 to cause the fillingchanging mechanism to be operated will be readily understood and is briefly as follows: As long as there is sufficient filling on the cop 3 and it is not exhausted to a predetermined point the latch 6 will be held and maintained in its raised position, allowing the end 37 of the lever 37 to extend into the recess 4 upon the beating up of the lay, as shown in Fig. 11; but when the filling on the cop 3 is exhausted to a predetermined point the latch 6 is lowered or dropped, as above described, and closes the recess or opening 4, and the end 37 of the lever 37 is thus prevented from extending into the recess 4: on the beating up of the lay and ismoved backward with the lever 37, and through the pin 38 the arm 39 is moved, causing the shaft 40 to rotateand move down the arm 41 and pin 42 thereon, causing the hook end 15" of the filling-fork 15 to extend in the path of and be engaged by the upper end of the cam-lever 16, the movement of which will operate the'filling-fork slide in the ordinary way and through mechanism not shown putinto operation the shuttle-changing or filling-changing mechanism in the well-known way.

In the mechanism shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11 there is no movement of the lever 37 in the ordinary normal running of the loom. Said lever is only moved when the lowering or dropping of the latch 6 prevents the end 37 of the lever 37 extending into the recess 4 in the shuttle. This non-movement of the lever 37 or its equivalent is of great advantage in the practical running of a loom, as will be fully appreciated by those skilled in the art.

In using my filling-detector mechanism to place the cop or bobbin on the spindle the spindle is raised and the full cop or bobbin placed thereon, as shown in Fig. 5. The latch 6 is then raised by the finger of the operator to the position shown in 3 to allow the extension 9 on the filling feeler or lever 9 to pass by the extension 6 on the latch 6, when the spindle is moved into the shuttle into its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3. After the extension 9 has passed by the extension 6' the latch 6 will be held in its raised position, as shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a loom, the combination with a shuttle, having an opening for the entry of a feeler, and means for closing said opening when the filling on the shuttle is exhausted to a predetermined point, of said feeler, independent of the shuttle, and adapted to extend into or enter the opening in the shuttle, and connected with mechanism intermediate said feeler and the filling-fork, to operate the fillingchange mechanism when the feeler fails to enter the opening in the shuttle, and said intermediate mechanism, comprising a pin engaging the hook end of the filling-fork, and intermediate connections between said pin and feeler, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a loom, the combination of a feeler,

'a shuttle having an opening for the entry of said feeler and means for closing said opening when the filling in the shuttle is exhausted to a predetermined point, said means comprising a latch and a pivoted feeler having a part to engage and hold the latch in inoperative position to uncover the opening when there is a sufficient supply of filling in the shuttle, said. feeler having another part engaging and resting upon the outerlayers of filling on the bobbin.

3. In a loom, the combination of a feeler, a shuttle having an opening for the entry of said feeler and means for closing said opening when the filling in the shuttle is exhausted to a predetermined point, said means comprising a pivoted latch, a pivoted feeler having an extension to one side of its pivot for engaging and holding the latch in inoperative position with the opening uncovered, said feeler also having a portion resting upon the exterior of the filling in the shuttle to cause the disengagement of the extension from the pivoted latch when the filling has been exhausted to a predetermined amount.

4:. In a loom, the combination of a feeler, a shuttle having an opening at one end for the entry of the feeler, and means for closing IIO said opening when the filling in the shuttle has become exhausted to a predetermined amount, said means comprising a latch pivoted to the shuttle at the end adjacent the opening and having an extension to one side of the pivot, a feeler also pivoted at the same end of the shuttle and having an extension adapted to engage the said extension on the latch, said feeler having a portion to engage and rest upon the exterior of the filling mass in the shuttle.

5. In a loom, the combination of the lay, a feeler carried thereby, a shuttle having an aperture for the entry of the feeler, a movable interposing piece carried by the shuttle to close said aperture on the exhaustion of the filling to a predetermined amount, and means for moving the feeler to cause it to enter the shuttle as the lay beats up.

6. In a loom, the combination of the lay, a feeler carried thereby, a shuttle having an aperture for the entry of the feeler, a movable interposing piece carried by the shuttle to close said aperture on the exhaustion of the filling to a predetermined amount, yielding means for causing said feeler to enter the shuttle as the lay beats up, and devices operative by the feeler, when its movement into the GEORGE F. HUTOI-IINS.

Witnesses:

J. O. DEWEY, M. HAAS. 

